I should be at capacity in my senior classes, which is generally 38, though I can have one period of up to 42. Not sure how many I'll have in my freshman class, since it's a special intervention class.

I think I'm at 8 or 9 right now, but I'm getting 12 of everything in case we have new enrollees before the first day (private school). I think my team teacher is up to 12 or 13 for first and second grade.

Thank you for that link. Though it made me sad. My jaw just drops any time I hear someone who has 25 or less kids in their classroom. (unless they are lower grades then 25 is usually what I see as they try to have the max)

I had 32 fifth graders back in Michigan. But I loved every one of those students. I've not seen class size as a challenge either way-that is something I can easily go with the flow on. In fact, I'd like to get up to 12 for this year (but no more-12 is very easy to divide into groups... ).

You don't see class size as a challenge? To me I can feel the difference even on the days where I have a handful of kids absent. On those days when my numbers took big dips, I felt like I actually got to every student that day, talked with all of them, helped all of them, worked with all of them. It felt great to actually be able to do that.
And don't even get me started on time spent grading. Take a teacher with 35 kids and one with 25. That is 10 less assignments to grade every single time. Throughout the year, that piles up to a significant chunk of time.
Most teachers I work with have said if there is one thing they would change to help make them be more effective teachers, it is lowering the class sizes.

I had 32 GREAT students that came from 2 different 1st grade classes the year before. Their teachers were WONDERFUL and so were the parents. I had LITTLE discipline problems. HOWEVER, when Jan. rolled around the large number began to create behavior problems. There was hardly any room in our classroom due to so many desks and their reading center groups were 6 each which is just a set up for a lot of talking and not working...

I have almost no words every time I see another low number posted, I just mumble to myself. And then it hits me that I am not shocked you all LOVE it so much. With those types of numbers, I probably would too.

You don't see class size as a challenge? To me I can feel the difference even on the days where I have a handful of kids absent. On those days when my numbers took big dips, I felt like I actually got to every student that day, talked with all of them, helped all of them, worked with all of them. It felt great to actually be able to do that.
And don't even get me started on time spent grading. Take a teacher with 35 kids and one with 25. That is 10 less assignments to grade every single time. Throughout the year, that piles up to a significant chunk of time.
Most teachers I work with have said if there is one thing they would change to help make them be more effective teachers, it is lowering the class sizes.

Click to expand...

Classroom management is a strength for me. Yes, it can appear to be easier when you have less students, but the dynamics can be just as explosive at times. With our current students-they've been together for so long, just the same 8 of them, that it can be a little TOO comfortable sometimes. I'm glad we're getting a few new students this year to mix up the relationships. In a larger class, I have no problem keeping track of skill levels or project progress-I just know my kids very, very well. As for homework-I do not assign frivolous assignments. Larger groups encourage you to really examine the work you are assigning!

Oh-and another plus-a larger pool of parents to solicit volunteer hours from! I'm in charge of fundraising for our school, and I feel so bad asking the same 100 families to contribute all year!

I agree that frivolous assignments are not good. But homework is required for us, and I am glad, I think practice is good for students. I don't grade every little assignment that the kids do, but the amount of in class and homework practice is important. Most kids don't master something on the very first try.

As for the parent volunteers, not a big thing for me.

But I am glad that you are happy with a huge class of students and feel you can get to all of them without any problems. Just about all of the teachers I work with, would disagree, but I am glad you are comfortable with it.

I have almost no words every time I see another low number posted, I just mumble to myself. And then it hits me that I am not shocked you all LOVE it so much. With those types of numbers, I probably would too.

Click to expand...

I know this might seem a little CRAZY, but I would rather have a class of 20 over 8. I did my practicum and worked as an aide in large classes and I miss having a full class and having more than one student on an ability level. In a smaller class, it is VERY noticeable to the students which student is not where they need to be academically.

Class size amendment goes into effect this year, so I'll have a max of 22 students per period (7 periods this year).

In the past, I've had as high as 35 and as low as 15. I think a huge part of behavior issues depends on the dynamics of the class. I find classes that are skewed in one sex (I had a class of 22 boys and 5 girls last year) are harder to manage.

I had 32 fifth graders back in Michigan. But I loved every one of those students. I've not seen class size as a challenge either way-that is something I can easily go with the flow on. In fact, I'd like to get up to 12 for this year (but no more-12 is very easy to divide into groups... ).

Click to expand...

"up to twelve"??? Kids to teach-- total????

24 is also easy to divide into groups; it has lots of factors.

Likewise with 36.

I can not imagine how a school can stay open, and pay its professionals a living wage, if it puts 12 kids into a class. Even in a strong economy-- where does the money come from to make that feasible?

I agree with Cherbrutta. I've had classes in the 40's that were a delight to teach, and classes in the high 20's that were more of a challenge.

Some of these tiny numbers shock me as well. Some of you have classes that are the same size as one of my reading groups! In my school board, staff are assigned based on total number of sutdents in the school (on average 1 teacher for 25 students). There is no possible way that we could run a classroom with fewer than 15 or 18 students.

For the upcoming school year, I had the option of teaching English to a small group of 8 grade 4 students (for 100 minutes/day) or a split grade 7/8 class of 30 students--I chose the larger class. I simply can't imagine what I would do for a whole year with only 8 students!

When I was interviewed for my current position, the principal mentioned that class size would be 20:1. Two years ago, the school was one of the worst performing schools in the state. In the two years after making it a all-boys school with smaller class size, the testing scores has improved.

But I am glad that you are happy with a huge class of students and feel you can get to all of them without any problems. Just about all of the teachers I work with, would disagree, but I am glad you are comfortable with it.

Click to expand...

Obviously, I think it's always better for the students to have a smaller class size, but I think there are some groups that need it more. In my class last year of 23 students, I had 21 ESOL and 5 SPED students. There is no way that they would have done as well in a larger class! Each of them needed so much one on one time, it wouldn't have been possible.

One year I had a period six class of seniors with 18 students. (Most seniors are done after period five.) It was challenging. In a larger group if 2 or 3 students are absent or not particularly engaged, it's less noticeable, but with the smaller group it was often hard to get discussions going.

I would be thrilled if I had 36 kids--as Alice pointed out, it's got many factors--lots of options for grouping. 38 is hard; you've got 19 groups of 2 or 2 groups of 19! :haha:

You don't see class size as a challenge? To me I can feel the difference even on the days where I have a handful of kids absent. On those days when my numbers took big dips, I felt like I actually got to every student that day, talked with all of them, helped all of them, worked with all of them. It felt great to actually be able to do that.
And don't even get me started on time spent grading. Take a teacher with 35 kids and one with 25. That is 10 less assignments to grade every single time. Throughout the year, that piles up to a significant chunk of time.
Most teachers I work with have said if there is one thing they would change to help make them be more effective teachers, it is lowering the class sizes.

Click to expand...

Absolutely!!! Grading reports/essays for 25 instead of 34 makes a huge difference. I am going in to my 4th year with this class size reduction grant (7 year grant) and grateful everyday for it.

I have four core classes and one enrichment/remediation class per day. The core classes generally have between 25-30 students. The other class varies. I've had up to 33 in an enrichment class, and closer to 10 for remediation.

Even with excellent classroom management, 32 kids is a lot. In most districts in my area, they wouldn't allow a class size that large and would split that into 2 classes. In fact, 24 students in a class would warrant a para.
I will have a class of 20 students this year as I had last year. Using a workshop approach, I am able to confer independently with each student on his or her reading and writing progress every week. I can't imagine using this approach with a class of 32- in fact, the community members of my district wouldn't stand for it. They have invested in school additions, staff salaries, professional development, and resources so that children can benefit from smaller class sizes (20 is about as high as we go).

Even with excellent classroom management, 32 kids is a lot. In most districts in my area, they wouldn't allow a class size that large and would split that into 2 classes. In fact, 24 students in a class would warrant a para.
I will have a class of 20 students this year as I had last year. Using a workshop approach, I am able to confer independently with each student on his or her reading and writing progress every week. I can't imagine using this approach with a class of 32- in fact, the community members of my district wouldn't stand for it. They have invested in school additions, staff salaries, professional development, and resources so that children can benefit from smaller class sizes (20 is about as high as we go).

Click to expand...

Your area has a bunch of smarties in it! :thumb: I'm glad some people out there understand how hard it is to have such high class sizes and DO something about it!